Running GFO and Carbon through single reactor?

[nam2212]

Can you give some details on how you used peroxide? Did you spot treat the GHA?

I chronicled my experience starting with post #975 in this thread:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2082359

I amswered some questions by others in the remainder of the thread as well. I did not spot treat. I removed all rock and sprayed them all down with a misting bottle.

 

[Knd107]

I place the carbon, foam disc, then GFO. The carbon is kept from tumbling by the foam below and above it. The GFO tumbles freely. Have done it this way for a few years.

I was planning to do it that way but I had a extra TLF around so I ended up teeing the line and adjusting to get the GFO tumbling. I still pack the carbon down since it gets the stronger flow from the pump. BTW, I am using a maxi jet 404 and its on a 40g breeder. Using the recommended amount per BRS.

I might revert to the single reactor and splitting it by extra foam.

Foam disc -> carbon -> foam disc -> GFO -> foam disc at top of reactor on a maxi jet 404.

 

[drillsar]

Ok so you don't mix it 50/50?

 

[SVTour]

I run both carbon and GFO through one, and I didn't mix the two.

I have the GFO running in the bottom, and created a plate for the carbon to sit on 1/2 way up the tube. The GFO tumbles fine...the carbon filters afterwards.

There are probably many, many ways to do this

 

[Knd107]

Yup, the way SVTour has it is what I doing too. I don't see any issues with it unless your tank is too large to fit both medias into a single reactor.

It works pretty good too since you usually replace the carbon (~2 weeks) before the GFO (~4 weeks) its easier to get the carbon out at the top.

Also, if you follow BRS then for my 40g, I need a 0.25 Cup of carbon and 0.63 cup of GFO so there will be alot more GFO then carbon which would adhere to each other if not tumbling. There is not enough carbon to separate the GFO particles.

 

[hollowpoint331]

I used to run in the same chamber but the Carbon Depletes faster than GFO. It became a pain to change every 2 weeks, Now I run Carbon via media filter bag and GFO in a BRS single. Change the GFO every 6 weeks or so. Still have some GHA i think from moving a huge base rock that stirred up the sand.

 

[l8_apex_it]

I change my carbon/GFO setup every 4 weeks and have not experienced any adverse effects. Maybe it isn't ideal but results still appear quite beneficial.

 

[johnfallon135]

where do you get that rubber ring?

 

[ZenGuitarGuy]

What about running the GFO loose in the chamber, with the carbon in a media bag suspended above it about halfway up? Has anyone tried this?